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Do studded tires wear quicker than normal when driven for long periods on clear pavement. Wife has to go to CA in Dec and go through several passes which may or may not have snow. She is uncomfortable with throwing chains and wants to use our studded tires for whole trip.
One trip isn't going to make enough of a difference unless the tires are incredibly poor quality, I wouldn't be uncomfortable letting her use them, but on the other hand, check local laws regarding studded tires and it'll be an uncomfortable ride, listening to those studs the whole way...
They do wear faster but its not because of the studs. Its because the rubber is softer to help with traction.
As for the trip you might want to make sure there are no tire restrictions. I know there are some states and local governments that have outlawed studded tires because people were driving them on dry pavement and tearing it up.
They do wear faster but its not because of the studs. Its because the rubber is softer to help with traction.
As for the trip you might want to make sure there are no tire restrictions. I know there are some states and local governments that have outlawed studded tires because people were driving them on dry pavement and tearing it up.
This. It's not that you are going to do any major damage to the tires in one trip. However, many states ban or restrict times and places you can drive on studded tires or with chains. Carefully check the laws in the states she will be going through on this site:
perhaps rent a vehicle with awd or 4wd instead. That may or may not make sense based on the time she will be there, but it may offer piece of mind for the entire trip rather then wondering if traction is an issue "just around the bend".
perhaps rent a vehicle with awd or 4wd instead. That may or may not make sense based on the time she will be there, but it may offer piece of mind for the entire trip rather then wondering if traction is an issue "just around the bend".
just a thought...
Having seen the passes I assume the OP is referring to, it doesn't matter what kind of vehicle you are driving. If they are snow covered, you aren't getting through without studded tires or chains, in fact some of the passes explicitely require chains on all vehicles in order to be allowed to drive through them.
It's not just the snow, it's the grade of the road as well. The crappy part is that you can start off in a snow free area and as you ascend the mountain end up in a completely snow clogged pass.
If that is a concern, route through Arizona and Bakersfield. A few miles further around, but nearly zero risk of snow that time of year. Even Truckee Pass at Reno would likely be passable with all-season tires most of the time in December, but if there is a heavy active snow, she might have to wait a day in Reno until it gets cleared. Signboards will be put up when a heavy show requires chains, otherwise you can get through with regular tires.
Where is she coming from? Colorado is a similar risk, which would again argue for a southern route through Albuquerque.
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